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Why multiple birth rates matter

I’ve had a couple of questions recently from people about success rates at fertility clinics, and it is clear that one thing that sometimes gets overlooked when you are considering the relative merits of different places is the multiple birth rate. In fact, it’s just as important to look at this as it is to look at the overall success.

In the UK, clinics are actively trying to reduce their multiple birth rates as they recognise that this is the biggest health risk from IVF – the idea of twins can sound marvellous, but a multiple pregnancy can bring serious risks for both mother and babies. The overall multiple rate after IVF has gone down in the UK from one in four babies to one in six, and yet success rates have remained stable. This shows that by selecting the right patients for single embryo transfer, you can maintain good success rates while at the same time reducing the risks. If you want to know more, the One at a Time website is the best place to start.

Some clinics overseas do still routinely put back three or more embryos – I came across a young couple a while ago who’d had five embryos transferred. This isn’t a sign of a good clinic trying to help you to get pregnant, but rather of a clinic which may not have your interests at heart. Even within the UK, multiple rates can vary hugely, so do check them out and remember that a really good clinic will have a good success rate combined with a low multiple rate.

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Fertility Matters is written by Kate Brian who has been through fertility problems, tests and IVF treatment herself. The website gives reliable information, advice and support to anyone who is having difficulties getting pregnant. Read more